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Paramount Announces New Top Gun Game

PSN, Mac, PC title to feature single-player campaign penned by the film's screenwriter.

Nearly 24 years after the Tom Cruise movie ruled the box office, the folks at Paramount want to find out if the Top Gun franchise still has legs. Maverick, Goose, and Iceman are coming to the PlayStation Network, Mac, and PC this summer in the latest Top Gun videogame.

Paramount Digital Entertainment announced the fighter jet sim today, describing Top Gun as a free-flying air combat shooter based on the film. And this isn't just a multiplayer affair, though the game will feature a 16-player online mode. Jack Epps, Jr., the original screenwriter, is penning an all-new story for the game's single-player campaign, featuring the characters from the film.

"With Jack Epps, Jr. on board, we're excited to deliver a new Top Gun arcade experience that holds true to the popular film," John Kavanagh, senior vice president of video games, Paramount Digital Entertainment, said in a statement. "The Top Gun development team did a great job taking the best elements of the film -- the characters, action, plot and attitude -- and expanding beyond them by creating new dialogue, more missions and multiplayer modes."

Top Gun features seven modes in total, two single player and five multiplayer. In the campaign, players take on the role of Maverick and must first learn to become a fighter pilot at the Top Gun Academy. Players then get sent into active duty to take on enemies over the Indian Ocean.

"Providing a deep, yet accessible gameplay experience, Top Gun will appeal to both casual and hardcore PlayStation fans when it comes to PlayStation Network this summer," said
Rob Dyer, senior vice president of publisher relations, Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Top Gun is set for takeoff on PSN, Mac, and PC this summer.

Sharkey says: If there is one thing gamers are clamoring for, it's a Top Gun game. Those other five or so Top Gun games over the years just weren't enough. The name of this one should be changed from Top Gun to Flying Nostalgia Assault.